Hello all! I had my lap band removed 5 days ago after having it for 6yrs. I am still suffering with acid reflux and indigestion symptoms. Has anyone else had their banc removed and still have problems? Does anyone have some words of wisdom they would like to share?:tongue:

Just a suggestion, but you might want to visit the "Life After LapBand" forum. The folks in there would probably be better able to answer your questions and help you out.

Ok great! Thanks for the info.

Hi mrspersia,

How are you feeling now? I had my band out 2-13-08. I did have some acid reflux/indigestion for the first couple of weeks but I feel good as new now. I hope it works out for you as well.

Hi SElaine! Thank you so much for your response. I am still experiencing bad acid reflux and indigestion. Im only able to keep down protein drinks and crackers. Even with those 2 things im constantly burping afterwards, and it takes a few hours to digest it seems like. Its very refreshing to know you had the same problems for only a few wks and that you are feeling great now. What was your diet during those few weeks if you dont mind i ask? Thanks again for sharing your info.

I sorry if this a stupid question, but why did you have your band removed. I was just wondering. I just was banded on this past December. What is it that may come along that may cause me to have band removed? Also, do you think you will gain weight back? Just wondering............thanks

Hi SElaine! Thank you so much for your response. I am still experiencing bad acid reflux and indigestion. Im only able to keep down Protein drinks and crackers. Even with those 2 things im constantly burping afterwards, and it takes a few hours to digest it seems like. Its very refreshing to know you had the same problems for only a few wks and that you are feeling great now. What was your diet during those few weeks if you dont mind i ask? Thanks again for sharing your info.

mrspersia,

Mine was never that bad. I was uncomforatable at times, but it didn't prevent me from eating. I was on liquids for a while but quickly progressed to a normal diet. I haven't had a problem keeping food down. If you haven't already, I would contact your doc. I know mine had me on some type of medication for it during my stay at the hospital.

I sorry if this a stupid question, but why did you have your band removed. I was just wondering. I just was banded on this past December. What is it that may come along that may cause me to have band removed? Also, do you think you will gain weight back? Just wondering............thanks

Hi smwww,

I'm not sure if your question was related just to the OP or both of us. I lost my band due to erosion. Believe me, it wasn't voluntary. I loved my band. I'm scared to death of gaining the weight back but I'm working out, eating right, and doing everything I can to keep it off.

Hey smwww...If you are asking me why i had mine removed. It gave me problems off & on thru the years. I was never able to hold a fill and eventually it got to where i had to put myself on a liquid diet due to vomitting so much. I basically got sick of living that way. I hope that answers your question. I wish you luck with yours. Some people do really good with the band, i just wasnt one of them :-(

Like you, after six years I had my band removed yesterday. I have been begging my doctor to take it out for years. I have never had to have a fill b/c it was immediately so restrictive that I was basically on a liquid diet for the first year. Then as the years progressed I could eat things like popcorn, ice cream, chips but not salad, fruit or chicken. After many years of frustration with this and pain, I had it taken out yesterday. I thought I would be ecstatic but the doctor is not sure that I will be unrestricted. After he removed the band he said that I was still completely restricted when he passed an instrument down my throat to check. He had to remove a bunch of scar tissue and he kept passing something down my throat to make sure that I would be unrestricted enough to eat. He says that I will notice an immediate difference when I can start eating but that it will take a full 6 months or more to make a big difference. I'm very disappointed in this b/c I had my victory lean cuisine flat bread in the freezer b/c honestly that is what I"m craving. Not junk food but things like broccoli, sandwiches, asparagus. Things that I haven't had for 6 years. Anyways, I apologize if I"m rambling on but I'm still on painkillers. Anyways, I'm very glad I found this message board. Just wondering if you were still restricted when you started eating. I note the people who have only had them a few years aren't but what about those that are at 6 years? That's a long time and I imagine our stomachs didn't bounce back after the band was removed.

You guys are really giving me something to think about. I am just like you all, can't eat good clean food, nothing wrong with band body just rejecting it. Now I dont want to go through surgery to have it removed if I still can't eat. This reminds me of the Stephen King book "Thinner", or be careful what you asked for.......

Can I appeal to those ex-bandsters who have posted their experiences on this topic to update and let me know how long it took after band removal before they could eat normally.

I am seven days post op and am struggling with fluids still, and anything thicker than milk is out of the question. Some days can't get down anything other than hot tea. My surgeon thought I would be on normal texture food by now!

Many Thanks

I had mine removed last October due to it not working (I gained weight with it) and having acid reflux. I was put on protonix for the acid reflux and had an endoscopy to see if there were any problems after the removal. I still feel that my esophagus is a bit tight but nothing like it was prior to debanding! I can eat and drink anything and that was pretty much right after removal.

I have no idea what your problem is but sounds like you need to get some testing done to find out what is causing this! Good luck to you and keep us posted, Nancy.

Thanks Nanook.

My problem is apparently severe post op swelling, and I did have a lot of scar tissue (adnesions) but the surgeons are confident they have desected all of it away and that is no longer an issue.

Doc put me on Dexamethasone (steroid) and Domperidone (anti sickness and gastric motility agent) and it appears to be helping a bit, but only on 3 day course of steroids so will wait to see what happens after they are stopped.

Hope you're feeling better soon. I had an endoscopy about a week or two after removal and they found several stomach polyps that were benign but I suppose in some people they can cause problems and they thought they were caused by the acid reflux medication. Don't know if that could be an issue for you.

Anyway good luck and hope you start to feel better soon, Nancy:smile:

Never had problems with acid reflux thankfully so hopefully not an issue.

Thanks